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CEGL007493 Pinus echinata - Quercus (montana, falcata) / Oxydendrum arboreum / Vaccinium pallidum Forest
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Shortleaf Pine - (Chestnut Oak, Southern Red Oak) / Sourwood / Blue Ridge Blueberry Forest
Colloquial Name: Southern Blue Ridge Escarpment Shortleaf Pine - Oak Forest
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This association includes crests of low-elevation slopes and ridges on the fringes of the Southern Blue Ridge, extending into the southern Ridge and Valley and Cumberland Plateau, where Pinus echinata and dry-site oaks characteristic of lower elevations codominate in association with other Appalachian flora. This forest is known from the southern Blue Ridge Escarpment of North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia, particularly in the Blue Ridge/Piedmont transition, where it occurs on exposed, rocky ridges and upper, convex slopes, at elevations at or below 670 m (2200 feet). It also extends into the southern Ridge and Valley and Cumberland Plateau, but more information is needed to characterize the variation in that part of the range. This community may occur in slightly more protected situations in the hotter Piedmont ecoregion. Canopies are codominated by Pinus echinata and combinations of dry-site oaks that may include Quercus falcata, Quercus coccinea, Quercus montana, Quercus stellata, and Quercus velutina. On rocky sites, canopies may be slightly stunted. Mid-canopy trees can be scattered or form a well-developed subcanopy. Common subcanopy trees can include Oxydendrum arboreum, Ilex opaca var. opaca, Cornus florida, Quercus marilandica, Quercus stellata, and Carya pallida. The shrub stratum varies in composition and density but is typically dominated by Vaccinium pallidum. Other shrubs may include Vaccinium stamineum, Gaylussacia ursina, Gaylussacia baccata, Rhododendron calendulaceum, Rhododendron minus, Castanea pumila, and Kalmia latifolia. On some sites Symplocos tinctoria can be important. Vitis rotundifolia and Smilax glauca are common vines. The herb stratum is poorly developed with scattered species such as Chimaphila maculata, Iris verna, Pteridium aquilinum var. latiusculum, Goodyera pubescens, Hexastylis arifolia, Coreopsis major, Tipularia discolor, Schizachyrium scoparium, Pityopsis graminifolia var. latifolia, Tephrosia virginiana, Silphium compositum, Dichanthelium spp., and Galax urceolata.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: These communities are distinguished by canopies codominated by Pinus echinata and combinations of dry-site oaks that may include Quercus falcata, Quercus coccinea, Quercus montana, Quercus stellata, and Quercus velutina. These communities are not well known. In North Carolina they are apparently largely confined to Cherokee County. Examples are also known from the southern portion of the Chattooga River Basin watershed in South Carolina and Georgia. This forest is probably fire-dependent to some extent, and fire (prescribed or natural) will stimulate regeneration of Pinus echinata. Many occurrences of this community are highly disturbed and contain exotic species such as Ligustrum japonicum, Dioscorea oppositifolia, and Lonicera japonica. Pinus echinata, in many occurrences, has been attacked by the Southern Pine Bark Beetle, which will eventually kill the trees. The concepts of the former associations Pinus echinata - Quercus falcata / Vaccinium pallidum Forest (CEGL007494) and Pinus echinata - Quercus montana / Oxydendrum arboreum / Vaccinium pallidum Forest (CEGL007495) were merged into this association and should be considered variants of this community. ~Pinus echinata - Quercus alba / Vaccinium pallidum / Hexastylis arifolia - Chimaphila maculata Forest (CEGL008427)$$ includes shortleaf pine - mesic oak forests of the non-coastal plain, non-Ozark/Ouachita portion of the Pinus echinata range, with an overall more mesophytic species composition than the association described here.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: Canopies are codominated by Pinus echinata and combinations of dry-site oaks that may include Quercus falcata, Quercus coccinea, Quercus montana (= Quercus prinus), Quercus stellata, and Quercus velutina. On rocky sites, canopies may be slightly stunted. Mid-canopy trees can be scattered or form a well-developed subcanopy. Common subcanopy trees can include Oxydendrum arboreum, Ilex opaca var. opaca, Cornus florida, Quercus marilandica, Quercus stellata, and Carya pallida. The shrub stratum varies in composition and density but is typically dominated by Vaccinium pallidum. Other shrubs may include Vaccinium stamineum, Gaylussacia ursina, Gaylussacia baccata, Rhododendron calendulaceum, Rhododendron minus, Castanea pumila, and Kalmia latifolia. On some sites Symplocos tinctoria can be important. Vitis rotundifolia and Smilax glauca are common vines. The herb stratum is poorly developed with scattered species such as Chimaphila maculata, Iris verna, Pteridium aquilinum var. latiusculum, Goodyera pubescens, Hexastylis arifolia, Coreopsis major (= var. rigida), Tipularia discolor, Schizachyrium scoparium, Pityopsis graminifolia var. latifolia, Tephrosia virginiana, Silphium compositum, Dichanthelium spp., and Galax urceolata.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This association includes crests of low-elevation slopes and ridges on the fringes of the Southern Blue Ridge, extending into the southern Ridge and Valley and Cumberland Plateau, where Pinus echinata and dry-site oaks characteristic of lower elevations codominate in association with other Appalachian flora. This forest is known from the southern Blue Ridge Escarpment region of North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia, particularly in the Blue Ridge/Piedmont transition, where it occurs on exposed, rocky ridges and upper, convex slopes, at elevations at or below 670 m (2200 feet). It also extends into the southern Ridge and Valley and Cumberland Plateau, but more information is needed to characterize the variation in that part of the range.
Geographic Range: This association occurs in the southern fringes of the Southern Blue Ridge, extending into the southern Ridge and Valley and Cumberland Plateau. It could possibly range into the upper Piedmont.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: AL, GA, KY, NC, SC, TN
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.687787
Confidence Level: Moderate
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G3G4
Greasons: No Data Available
| Type | Name | Database Code | Classification Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class | 1 Forest & Woodland Class | C01 | 1 |
| Subclass | 1.B Temperate & Boreal Forest & Woodland Subclass | S15 | 1.B |
| Formation | 1.B.2 Cool Temperate Forest & Woodland Formation | F008 | 1.B.2 |
| Division | 1.B.2.Na Eastern North American Forest & Woodland Division | D008 | 1.B.2.Na |
| Macrogroup | 1.B.2.Na.2 Appalachian-Northeastern Oak - Hardwood - Pine Forest & Woodland Macrogroup | M502 | 1.B.2.Na.2 |
| Group | 1.B.2.Na.2.g Table Mountain Pine - Virginia Pine - Pitch Pine Woodland & Barrens Group | G905 | 1.B.2.Na.2.g |
| Alliance | A3269 Shortleaf Pine - Table Mountain Pine - Chestnut Oak Appalachian Woodland Alliance | A3269 | 1.B.2.Na.2.g |
| Association | CEGL007493 Shortleaf Pine - (Chestnut Oak, Southern Red Oak) / Sourwood / Blue Ridge Blueberry Forest | CEGL007493 | 1.B.2.Na.2.g |
Concept Lineage: The concepts of the former associations CEGL007494, Pinus echinata - Quercus falcata / Vaccinium pallidum Forest, and CEGL007495, Pinus echinata - Quercus prinus / Oxydendrum arboreum / Vaccinium pallidum Forest, were merged into this association and
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: < IA7a. Xeric Shortleaf Pine - Oak Forest (Allard 1990)
- ALNHP [Alabama Natural Heritage Program]. 2018. Unpublished data on file. Alabama Natural Heritage Program, Auburn University.
- Allard, D. J. 1990. Southeastern United States ecological community classification. Interim report, Version 1.2. The Nature Conservancy, Southeast Regional Office, Chapel Hill, NC. 96 pp.
- Evans, M., B. Yahn, and M. Hines. 2009. Natural communities of Kentucky 2009. Kentucky Nature Preserves Commission, Frankfort, KY. 22 pp.
- NatureServe Ecology - Southeastern United States. No date. Unpublished data. NatureServe, Durham, NC.
- Nelson, J. B. 1986. The natural communities of South Carolina: Initial classification and description. South Carolina Wildlife and Marine Resources Department, Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries, Columbia, SC. 55 pp.
- Peet, R. K., T. R. Wentworth, M. P. Schafale, and A.S. Weakley. No date. Unpublished data of the North Carolina Vegetation Survey. University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.
- Schafale, M. P. 2012. Classification of the natural communities of North Carolina, 4th Approximation. North Carolina Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources, Division of Parks and Recreation, Natural Heritage Program, Raleigh.
- Schotz, A., H. Summer, and R. White, Jr. 2008. Vascular plant inventory and ecological community classification for Little River Canyon National Preserve. NatureServe, Durham, NC. 244 pp.
- Southeastern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Durham, NC.
- White, Jr., R. D., and T. Govus. 2005. Vascular plant inventory and plant community classification for Kings Mountain National Military Park. NatureServe, Durham, NC. 178 pp.